Baby Chicks Arrive at Tilly Foster Farm

From the Putnam County Executive’s Office:

County Executive MaryEllen Odell was on hand to see 21 baby chicks of various breeds and sizes arrived to take up residence at Tilly Foster Farm on Saturday, August 9. Also present and ready to greet her new charges was veterinary technician Teresa Delahanty and her daughter, Grace.

Holmes resident Lisa Walker transported the chirping flock of Frizzle Cochin, Buff Silkie and Blue Silkie Bantams, Golden Polish, Red Star, Barred Rock and Ameracauna chicks from her house to the 199-acre farm located off Route 312 in the Town of Southeast. Walker had been tending to the hatchlings for the past few weeks until they were old enough to be relocated.

Odell held several of the chicks including the only identified rooster whom she immediately named “Walker” in honor of her Deputy County Executive Bruce Walker. Delahanty and Walker dubbed another chick Lady in Red. The rest of the flock has yet to be named.

“They are all so beautiful,” said Odell as she first held a Golden Polish and then a Frizzle Cochin chick. “It’s the beginning of all good things to come here [to Tilly Foster Farm].”

Delahanty and Walker carried the penned chicks over to their spacious handcrafted and hand-painted coop, an Eagle Scout project built by Thomas P. Quinn, a member of Mahopac Falls Boy Scout Troop 271. Children watched through a special viewing window built into the side of the coop.

James Matthew Hawley, visiting with his mother, Alexis, peeked in on the chicks encouraging them to say, “Cheese!” for all the cameras snapping photos and videos of their homecoming.

Afterwards, the youngsters made paper plate chicks and listened to a story read by Delahanty about a special baby chick.

To learn more about upcoming events and animal arrivals and to enjoy photos and videos of the chicks’ homecoming, visit the new Tilly Foster website at: PutnamTillyFoster.com.